10 OSHA safety topics to discuss in your toolbox meeting 2024

Employees are at the heart of every organization. Whether you’re managing corporate or manual labor, safety must remain a top priority to prevent critical incidents from happening. Take a proactive stance and promote security and efficiency in the workplace by investing in toolbox training for your employees.

In this article, we've listed ten OSHA safety topics to discuss with your team to reinforce compliance and awareness at work.

What are OSHA safety topics?

To promote compliance, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released guidelines for enforcement to keep workplace operations out of harm. OSHA safety topics cover a wide array of industries, such as agriculture, construction, maritime, and more. They offer standards for training employees and raising awareness of the various hazards at work.

What is the importance of OSHA safety topics?

Including OSHA safety topics in your toolbox meeting is critical to building a productive space for your employees. Educating them on the different workplace hazards lying around heightens their awareness and gives them the confidence to perform their tasks fearlessly.

Read on below to discover ten helpful topics you can incorporate into your safety meetings.

OSHA safety topic #1 - Cybersecurity & Internal Threats

Browsing the internet can be dangerous if you’re not aware of the risks lurking around. While this doesn’t belong in your typical safety toolbox talk, cybersecurity training is essential, especially if most of your workflow happens online.

Protect your employees and company data from phishing attempts, malware, and more by enrolling them in cybersecurity classes. They’ll learn about password management, email security, and incident reporting.

SC Training is an award-winning learning management platform that allows you to customize cybersecurity classes according to your preferences. Gain access to over 1,000 fully editable courses, so you can deliver branded training in minutes, not hours. All the lessons can be completed in under five minutes on any device, so your team can take their training anytime and anywhere.

Recommended courses on cybersecurity:

• Cybersecurity & Internal Threats by SC Training
• Cyber Security by SC Training
• Cybersecurity Awareness by SC Training
• Basics of Security Management by Alison

Join SC Training and gain access to thousands of editable safety courses today!

OSHA safety topic #2 - Workplace ergonomics

For desk jobs, ergonomics is the solution to keeping your employees comfortable and productive. It's a systematic way of improving working conditions to boost comfort and efficiency for workers. Instead of forcing employees to fit into their jobs, ergonomics does the exact opposite: it fits jobs to workers.

Factors such as strained muscle movement, awkward postures, and extreme temperatures affect the musculoskeletal system; leading to workers experiencing fatigue, pain, or discomfort. But this is where workplace ergonomics come into play.

Learning the science behind ergonomics will help you build a comfortable and sustainable workplace so your team can stay healthy and maximize their time at work.

Recommended courses on workplace ergonomics:

• Ergonomics (for Retail) by SC Training
• Ergonomics (for Manufacturing) by SC Training
• Introduction to Ergonomics Workplace Analysis by Alison

OSHA safety topic #3 - Ladder safety

While ladders are handy and efficient tools on work sites, they pose serious risks if not used properly. OSHA safety topics like this are a worthwhile investment, especially for those in the construction industry. Put ladder safety training in your team’s pockets so they can confidently perform their tasks every day.

Fall protection training examines guidelines for climbing, maintaining, and storing ladders. It also explores the different fall prevention systems to guarantee safe worksite operations. So if your team relies on ladders to get tasks done, this is one of those OSHA toolbox talks you shouldn’t pass up.

Recommended courses on ladder safety:

• Ladder Safety (US) by SC Training
• Fall Prevention (US) by SC Training
• Working at Heights by SC Training

OSHA safety topic #4 - CPR and First Aid training

Companies must offer proper first aid for their employees. A few minutes can spell the difference for a person critically injured, and that’s why OSHA standards require one or more employees in every workplace to be trained and certified in first aid and CPR.

First aid training must be refreshed every three years, and the use of mannequins and partner practice is encouraged by OSHA to foster ‘hands-on skills’ for employees.

SC Training’s OSHA first aid course introduces your workers to the basics of first aid, the different types of life-threatening and non-life-threatening injuries, and the proper response to emergencies. Free for up to 10 users, this editable course can be shared on any device and completed in under five minutes.

Recommended courses on first aid:

• OSHA First Aid Standards (US) by SC Training
• First Responders Psychological First Aid & Resilience by SC Training
• OSHA First Aid Training and Standards by SC Training

OSHA safety topic #5 - Fire safety

Fire-related accidents aren’t limited to residential areas. In the workplace, fire reports are more common than you think. This is why it’s important to educate employees on OSHA safety topics like fire prevention and fire extinguisher training to minimize injuries.

Some common causes of fire at work are faulty equipment, cluttered workplaces, flammable materials, and careless workers. Because fires cause irreversible damage to your company, it’s best to stay alert and prepared.

Talking about the proper use of fire extinguishers during your safety huddles gives your employees the confidence to handle fires calmly if the need arises. They can discern whether or not the fire can be put out or if it’s best to evacuate the building entirely.

Recommended courses on fire safety and protection:

• Portable Fire Extinguishers (US) by SC Training
• Fixed Extinguishing Systems (US) by SC Training
• Fire Safety by SC Training

OSHA safety topic #6 - Heat exposure

Working long hours under the sun without protection can damage the skin and cause serious health problems in the long run. For those in manual labor, this may be a daily routine. But to preserve safe working conditions for your team, you've got to educate them about the effects of prolonged heat exposure.

Aside from regularly inspecting the worksite for potential risks, OSHA training topics on heat stress inform your workers on methods to recognize, control, and respond to heat hazards. They’ll also learn to select the right personal protective equipment (PPE) for each job.

Recommended courses on heat stress:

• Working in the Heat by SC Training
• Heat Stress by J.J. Keller
• Heat Stress/Heat Illness for Construction by ClickSafety

OSHA safety topic #7 - Chemical safety

While chemicals are essential for businesses to keep running, they invite various health hazards if not managed properly. OSHA standards require companies to offer written information about the chemicals workers are exposed to in a language everyone can understand.

For those in the construction industry, this is one of those workplace safety topics you shouldn’t skip. SC Training’s course on hazard communication is evaluated by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), so you can rest assured that the lessons fully comply with environmental guidelines. It examines OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard and discusses labeling chemicals and safety data sheets.

Recommended courses on chemical safety:

• Hazard Communication in General Industry (US) by SC Training
• Hazard Communication in Construction (US) by SC Training
• Vinyl Chloride (US) by SC Training
• Hazardous Chemical Spill Prevention and Control by SC Training

OSHA safety topic #8 - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Add this to your list of essential OSHA safety meeting topics to discuss with your team. By investing in PPE training, you can enhance security, keep everyone’s workflow efficient, and reduce any threat of injuries.

As humans, we can’t help but make mistakes. But when it comes to work, safety and compliance shouldn’t be compromised. Through PPE training, your team will understand the significance of selecting and wearing their equipment properly, so they can perform their jobs efficiently without worries.

Recommended courses on PPE:

• Head Protection (US) by SC Training
• Eye and Face Protection (US) by SC Training
• Respiratory Protection Awareness (US) by SC Training
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Construction by SC Training

OSHA safety topic #9 - Workplace violence prevention

Violence in the workplace isn’t limited to physical acts. It can also come in the form of verbal abuse, threatening behavior, spreading rumors, and bullying. Being the recipient of harassment from co-workers can be damaging; not only does it affect employee productivity, but it greatly harms their self-esteem too.

It’s important to cultivate a safe space. Note that work-related incidents aren’t confined to the office; they also happen during off-site events like conferences or social meetings. Take a proactive stance by investing in workplace violence training to reduce risks and promote an inclusive environment for every worker.

Recommended courses on workplace violence prevention:

• OSHA Worker Rights and Protection (US) by SC Training
• USA Harassment Prevention (Supervisors) by SC Training and Polsinelli
• USA Harassment Prevention (Employees) by SC Training and Polsinelli
• Investigating Workplace Incidents (OSHA) (for Manufacturing) by SC Training

OSHA safety topic #10 - Hearing conservation

Hearing is an essential human ability. We rely on our ears more than we think. Yet many take the sense of hearing for granted, as hearing loss develops slowly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that each year, 22 million workers are exposed to damaging noise. Prolonged exposure results in reduced productivity and increased hazards since it becomes difficult to hear warnings during emergencies.

By studying health and safety topics like this for your crew, you’ll teach them to minimize the risks associated with noise hazards. A great example is SC Training’s course on hearing conservation, which was crafted with the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). This means it’s designed to comply with OSHA standards on occupational noise exposure, so rest assured that your team’s in good hands.

Recommended courses on hearing conservation:

• Noise and Hearing Conservation (US) by SC Training
• OSHA Hearing Conservation & Noise Exposure Training by 360training
• Hearing Conservation Training by Lion